Baja California Hosts Sixth Annual Baja Seafood Expo And 35th Annual Fish And Seafood Festival

Ensenada Welcomes Industry Insiders and Seafood Enthusiasts to Sept.18-22 Events. End Quote

San Diego, CA (1888PressRelease) September 19, 2013 - Baja California Tourism welcomes visitors to the sixth annual Baja Seafood Expo, held in Ensenada Sept. 18-22, 2013 in conjunction with the 35th Fish and Seafood Festival on Sept. 22. The five-day expo is a joint effort between the state's government, seafood producers and suppliers, environmental authorities and restaurants throughout Baja California to highlight the city's largest industry. Offering attendees educational and business development opportunities, this event unites the leaders of Baja California's seafood industry and international buyers, while also celebrating Ensenada's local culinary scene and popular pastime, sportfishing, with competitive events.

As the premier forum for fishing and aquaculture in northwest Mexico, the Baja Seafood Expo is the largest trade event of its kind on the Pacific Coast, immersing local producers in the international seafood business while showcasing the vast variety of seafood harvested in Ensenada. Among the dozens of abundant species that are commercially fished in Ensenada, abalone, sea cucumbers, yellowtail and geoduck clams are also some of the most demanded seafood in the world. In 2012, the event featured more than 50 different species of fish, and approximately 230 meetings were arranged between 43 producers and 24 buyers, half of which traveled from Beijing, Shanghai, Taiwan, Canada and several major U.S. cities.

Hosted at Playa Hermosa in Ensenada, a city well known for an extensive coastline, the Baja Seafood Expo begins on Sept. 18 with the fifth annual International Symposium of Aquaculture Health and Safety. The two-day educational event featuring experts from Europe and the United States sharing insights and tips for competing in the international seafood market while maintaining the safety and health of Mexico's marine environments. Throughout the entire event, hundreds of buyers and industry insiders from around the world, including Thailand, Japan and China, will participate in workshops, seminars and roundtable discussions on topics such as health, safety, sustainability and financial aspects of the seafood industry.

The event opens to the public on Sept. 20, kicking off with a lecture and ribbon-cutting ceremony with Nuria Urquía Fernández, Mexico's representative for the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, and concludes with the Fish and Seafood Festival, on Sunday, Sept. 22. Consumers can sample fresh seafood from more than 40 local restaurants, and cheer on the region's most prominent chefs when they are recognized in the awards ceremony at the conclusion of a two-day Gastronomic Competition, an Iron Chef-inspired contest featuring mystery seafood items as key ingredients.

For attendees seeking a competition they can be a part of, the expo will also host the inauguration and award ceremonies for the International Circuit Sportfishing Tournament. The tournament begins on Sept. 20 and is open to the public. Those interested in participating can register at 2 p.m. on Sept. 20 at Ventana al Mar Esplanade in Ensenada. Participants compete in various categories of fishing for a grand prize of $300,000 pesos (approximately $25,000 USD).

"Each year, the Baja Seafood Expo continues to attract more international attendees and introduce new buyers and industry experts to the broad range of exceptional seafood available in our region," said Baja California State Tourism Secretary Juan Tintos Funcke. "Attendees not only learn about the latest industry trends, but they can also taste our region's freshest high-quality seafood, masterfully prepared by Baja's top chefs, and experience the excitement of one of our biggest annual sportfishing tournaments."

More information about the Baja Seafood Expo, including event pricing and a full schedule, please visit www.bajaseafoodexpo.com. For more information about Baja California, visit www.discoverbajacalifornia.com.

About Baja California
Located just south of San Diego, Baja California, Mexico offers stunning Pacific Ocean beaches, warm waters of the Sea of Cortez, forests, mountains, deserts and bays. The state's five municipalities, Ensenada, Mexicali, Playas de Rosarito, Tecate and Tijuana, have unparalleled landscapes of tremendous beauty. Visitors can enjoy a variety of attractions including sport fishing, bike riding, off road racing as well as explore the missions, cave paintings, wine country, and more. Visit www.discoverbajacalifornia.com, follow us on Twitter at ( @ ) discoverbaja, and like us on Facebook dot

About Ensenada
The third largest city in Baja California and one of Mexico's key Pacific ports, Ensenada provides the quintessential coastal Mexico experience and the gateway to Mexico's premier wine country. First discovered in 1542, Ensenada began as a small fishing village and remains a world-class fishing destination today. Excursion tours in Ensenada Bay from January through March offer some of the best views of grey whales passing through from their calving grounds further south, while surfing and scuba diving are also popular aquatic activities. The city's abundant seafood fills the legendary open air fish market on the boardwalk, as well as several revered fish taco and ceviche stands. Guests can enjoy fine dining and wines in the city, or journey east to Baja's wine country, which produces 90 percent of Mexico's wine. Ensenada's rugged terrain make it an ideal starting and stop point for the famous SCORE Baja 500 and Baja 1000 off-road races. Visit www.discoverbajacalifornia.com/explore-ensenada.php for more information.

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